The Association of Hunt Saboteurs and the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports have condemned the new rules covering fox hunting and the two groups criticised the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, for accepting them.
The hunt saboteurs said the new code of rules on "digging-out" and ground-blocking foxes was another attempt to sanitise "a bloodsoaked and cruel pastime".
It pledged to continue to take direct action in conjunction with efforts in Britain until a full ban on hunting with hounds is introduced.
For the fourth year running the group will picket the Louth Hunt Ball which takes place in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, tonight.
The CACS described the deal hammered out between the Minister and the Irish Hunting Association as a "complete sham" because it did not cover the practice of the baiting of fox cubs before the season begins.
"Fox hunting does not lend itself to reform. From beginning to end, it is a cruel and dehumanising practice," said the statement, adding that huntsmen cannot be allowed police themselves.
The CACS statement said the Minister had been wrong-footed by scenes of horror on a video of digging-out supplied by those opposed to hunting.
Today, the Aga Khan Nations Cup goes ahead without the President, Mrs McAleese, and Eddie Macken, who has represented Ireland in the competition for the last 27 years.
There are dark mutterings about the absence of the President, not just from RDS sources but from the show-going public as well, who are at a loss to know why she is not attending.
They are particularly perplexed by the reports, which are not being denied by the RDS, that it had offered through informal channels to fly the President from Donegal to the grounds to continue the long tradition of presidential attendances.
The President had confirmed in January that she would attend, subject to State business, but in the first week of July told the society of her alternative plans to visit the Gaeltacht with her family.
It emerged yesterday that the President will officiate at next year's Aga Khan if invited - subject to State business not interfering.
That statement was issued from Aras an Uachtarain to RTE Radio 1's Liveline programme, which is being hosted by Joe Duffy.
Today's event, according to RDS chief executive Mr Shane Cleary, will go ahead with all the usual ceremony except the playing of the presidential salute. Standing in for the President will be the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.
One Dublin family went away happy from the show yesterday, having sold five "horses". The Wallis family, who build old-fashioned rocking horses, had already sold five of their creations on the first day of the Show.
Their horses, hand made from marine mahogany with saddles made in India, cost over £600 and sell, according to Mr Pat Wallis of Dublin, to all sections of Irish society.